AHMED vs STATE OF GUJARAT

The Supreme Court addressed the applicability of Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, in the context of a search conducted by a gazetted officer. The Court held that the mandatory requirements of Section 50 must be complied with, even when the search is conducted by a gazetted officer, as the accused had requested to be taken to a Magistrate for the search. Consequently, the Court found the conviction under Section 20-B(2) of the Act to be invalid due to non-compliance with Section 50, leading to the acquittal of the accused.